Founder Rick Stainton tells EN how the launch of The Power of Events will help the industry through 2023 and beyond.
The Power of Events (UK) is a not-for-profit company established in 2022 to deliver a much-needed platform. Launched in February, it aims to provide an overview of the UK events industry for exploring all the elements that make up this diverse industry.
The platform has unilateral support from its defined seven core sectors and the four key industry communities, which it will signpost all visitors to: trade associations, support organisations, industry media publications and 10 UK university event faculties – see more here.
It is designed not to duplicate or compete with any other existing association or organisation’s activity – rather showcase them with a full profile and link to their dedicated sites.
So what’s the need for The Power of Events?
The pandemic highlighted a huge challenge the industry has always had – how do we describe our events industry – its multiple sectors, the communities that are at its foundation, its contribution to the UK economy and society?
Now is the time to help make the whole industry across the various sectors fully aware of the bigger picture. Consequently, it can be also used by those with the remit to showcase this to external media, government, investors, grant holders and most importantly the future generation of event professionals.
One key benefit is to help secure the best future talent for our industry, ensuring we are best positioned and considered versus other competing industries. University graduates and school leavers can explore the events industry – its br37eadth of opportunities and the various communities that can facilitate their integration to becoming an event professional. Universities inform us that only about 40% of event graduates enter the industry – the need and opportunity is clear.
There needs to be an understanding of our broad range of job roles deployed across all sectors.
Currently academic institutions do not have an accepted model or robust data to present the industry’s sectors or the supply chain, as a tool to attract talent and use in their course modules. Indeed most say the majority of applicants see either running a major music event or a wedding as core to the industry – it is clear a broader and more accurate knowledge base is needed.
The vast majority of the industry is made up of SMEs, underpinned by an essential freelance network who often work across all the seven core sectors, working across an expansive variety of event types and sectors. Leveraging the power of this unity boosts demonstrable economic and cultural impact – offering a boot for those lobbying government, seeking investment and attracting talent – effectively presenting the power of the UK events industry as global leaders.
